ABOUT US

Chizld was founded in 2007 by Scott McDowell. He partnered with Galen McCue in 2016. With a combined 40 years of experience in many of the different avenues of construction, Scott & Galen partnered together because they believe that their values, specialties and goals offer clients an all-around higher quality of service and craftsmanship.

Being a General Contractor encompasses our background of being True Carpenters, coupled with our experience in project management from the design phase through to the completion of the project, including managing subtrades, permits, materials and costing.

We have realized that the current state of building is deviating further and further away from any sort of sustainability. We are moving towards gaining more of the experience, knowledge and networking needed to do our part in building responsibly, as well as educating the next generation of carpenters, to keep the true craftsmanship alive and evolving.

It is our sincere intention to work with you, whatever the project, to realize your dreams.

Scott McDowell, Owner

Founder and Owner of CHIZLD Design and Construction since 2007, with over 16 years' experience in Carpentry & Construction and 7 years in HVAC CommissioningScott is passionate about Design, Eco/Sustainable Building, Century Home Restoration, Reclaimed Lumber and Custom Carpentry. Scott grew up on his Grandfathers Dairy farm and learned how to fix anything.His first foray into construction was at 16 when he worked a summer as a labourer. Scott worked at Roxul Insulation right out of highschool, and for a year, learned the processes involved in the manufacturing of a green product and how the properties of insulation and Resistance Values affect the costs of running a home. At 21, he began working under a Master Carpenter at the Cochrane Home Renovation and remained there for 2 years; he moved onto Residential Home building at Millcroft subdivision in Burlington with Reid Homes.Scott's long term fascination with architecture led him to attend Computer-Aided Design (CAD) School where he received Honours from the CAD/CAM Institute. He then applied this to his career and worked in Drafting and Design in the residential and commercial roofing Industry for 2 years. Scott then completed a (Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning) HVAC apprenticeship in Air and Hydronic systems and graduated with his Certificate in Testing/ Adjusting and Balancing from the National Environmental Balancing Bureau. He then worked in the HVAC field for 6 years in Canada, and traveled abroad to Melbourne, Australia for an additional year in the HVAC field where he was offered a 4 year tenure in CAD/ Project management after the years contract, but decided Canada is where he wanted to be close to family. After returning to Canada in 2007, Scott wanted to get back into carpentry full time, so with his many years of experience and unique work and education history he founded CHIZLD Design and Construction. Coming full circle, his first project was to renovate The Cochrane Home he had first worked on at the beginning of his career. His thirst for knowledge and eductaion allowed him to travel to work with some of the best sources of age old and cutting edge technology where he learned Earthen Plaster on a project in Cornwall, England, and worked on Log Home and Traditional Timberframing in Switzerland. Working on various residential projects from the design phase to completed construction, he was successful in both. In 2015, Scott took a supervisory position with a builder in Guelph and worked with fellow supervisor Galen McCue. He knew right away that there was a good meeting of talent, experience, vision and integrity between them. A year later they partnered together into CHIZLD Design & Construction Ltd.

Galen McCue, RSE, Owner

Galen started working in the carpentry field at the young age of 12. His father was a master carpenter who specialized in custom woodworking and Galen worked with him every summer on commercial job sites.After high school, he started working with a custom framing company. He soon became the lead hand, travelling all over Ontario, framing houses no smaller than 4,500 sq ft.At the age of 23, Galen took on a unique position for 2 years in Northern Ontario on a complete design & building team building cottages in remote locations. He then took a position with Post Farm Structures. He built agricultural buildings and livestock barns, and specialized in fine wood working on equine stables, tack rooms & riding arenas, including 3 award-winning barns in Ontario.Galen went on to work with a high-quality complete general contracting company (Residential, Agricultural, Commercial, & ICI) as a site supervisor & project manager.He found a strong passion for the restoration of old buildings and residential homes, as well as his passion for educating people.Through this time, Galen completed his carpentry apprenticeship, receiving the top marks throughout the duration of the program, and obtained his Red Seal Carpentry Journeyman status. He was able to showcase his talents by competing in the Skills Ontario Competition in 2015 coming in 2nd for individual carpentry for the province.Throughout Galen’s career, he has personally taken an interest in bettering his own knowledge as a carpenter. Some of his accomplishments and courses include:

Red Seal Carpenter Journeyman Status

Certified Installer of ICF Quadlock

Certified Fall Arrest

Schluter Certified Installer

Timber Framing Courses

Supervisory courses

Galen is an extremely talented Carpenter, with tremendous attention to detail with all of his projects. He has good values, and always strives to put his clients above anyone else. After meeting Scott McDowell in 2015, it was immediately apparent to both of them that they had very similar values and life goals. They partnered together with CHIZLD Design & Construction in 2016 and have been completing successful projects together ever since.